Difficult bed time/ overnight behaviour

[Verytirednow]

My daughter is single with an almost 3 year old. Child is absolutely beautiful and a child loved by our family.
unfortunately child has become very difficult and my daughter is really struggling with rules and particularly bed time .
Behaviour here is absolutely fine because I am assertive whereas my daughter is a single mum studying to be a SW .
She has run out of steam and is feeling destroyed….on her own so hard to be consistent…any words of advice please 🙏.
Thank you in advance for any help.X

Hi. Behaviour is communication.... has your grandchild just started nursery/pre-school, mum spending more time on uni work? Child could be asking for Mum's attention back, in which case she can't give more time than she has but can give special quality moments. ...just 10 minutes of focused engagement ..games, drawing, their-level-playing together etc. whenever she can. When she does this she could subtly point out to the child that mummy is giving them special time ("I'm so happy we get to play together even when I'm so busy") and plan ahead ("after nursery we'll go home & play shops").
Single parenting is bleeping hard and consistance is a struggle. She might need to look at her network, I'm assuming you help out where you can? finding a local single parents group helped me no end to just gather myself in the chaos. Gingerbread single parents site might have some local signposting to a group.
Also... sounds age appropriate & kids will always test the closest care giver the most.

Good luck.

I would recommend the blog "Don't leave a testing toddler hanging" by Janet Lansbury. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.janetlansbury.com/2014/07/dont-leave-a-testing-toddler-hanging/&ved=2ahUKEwiK1fep59L6AhVMT8AKHcwhAAUQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2YcRSo2v4MErYM1XPqglDO

For me it's all about having a routine and sticking to it. No negotiation or favours unless it's for a special reason - weekend, holiday, Christmas. I was always clear and consistent - TV time, bath, story with cuddles and milk and chat, clean teeth and bed. And maybe a little funny jokey goodnight. I used to do a little thing about with my son 'do I love you this much? This much, or this much?' As my arms got wider and wider until I said 'no I love you more than the whole wide world.' He would join in and knew at the end I would be leaving the room.